New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-14
PRICE THREE CENTS
THE KNIGHTS GREAT RIVAL.
MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF LABOR
MANY DELEGATES AT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE KNIGHTS INFLUENCE.
by TELEGR APH tn THE rprnrNpl


lBf TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
BALTIMORE. Dec. l3.-The National Convention Of
'no AnIciioah federatlon OF Labor the great rival
VI inc hh'snts ol LABOR and claiming a membership
OF haf million skilled worlimcn, met In this city
this morning 1t Is tho second NatIonaI Convention
that the order has held and much valuable and I'm
portant work will probably be done before the week
ends. Tho rnng trains into Baltimore br uht dele
e"e> hcln various paii- If tie Urtcd states Several
delegae' rcprc,cnicl Canadian traie unions The
convention is being held IN COroOIdia Hail. a pretty
meeting room in Eutaw-s, not far nom the Eutaw
House, which Is the headquarters Of nost Of the dele
gates.
Todays work listed principally in re,cvIn: and
admitting delegates The delegates were welcomed to
inc c'ty Dy Mayor lairobe. who escorted ~ tho
hall by delegation from the local order The Mayor
read brief address to President Gompcrs VINO re-
spohhu IN happy MAJ He was followed by
Nicholas Talbot, president Ct the Baliiniorc branch
OF the FedoI alton OF Labor
An adjournment took place al il a. m TO allow
the committee TN credentials receive the dele
gates. when the afternoon session began, il began
WIN wrangle over tho ADHESION OF the delegates
from The Washington branch ~ reason for the OBJ
1ecti"n to this branch that 1t IS composed o nine
teen Local orders Of the knights OF Labor one s,.-
pended trade union and the Typographical Union which
"ds represented by a delegate. .Ohn Kirsl
ner, delegate from the International Cigar
makers Cron, mado bitter speech,
and charged that the sending of the delegates was
scheme OF the Knights Of Labor to capture the whole
organization. ]. MCGUIRE General Secretary Of tho
Order took the floor and also upheld the motion to
reject the Washington delegation.
At this very tme,7 exclaimed the excited secre-
tary p. J. OBrcn Of the knights of Labor IS try
Ing to form local districts of his order out OF the Fed
Grafton there I'm Washington Unless tho delegates
assure me that the people whom he represents VIII
adhere TO the principles Of this organization, Will
oppose his being admitted 10 he floor
Cries Of Question. Question: drowned Mr. Me-
Cures voice, and Chairman Gompers put the motion.
Tho Objectionable districts were not allowed on tho
floor.
70 morrow the various committees which werc
appointed on finance rules, resolutions etc, VIII hand
Mr. Gompcrs took the floor far an hour and read
lons report on ne history of the new organization,
us progress and rs prospects. He made strong
appeal for reduction in the hours of labor and esyo
some Interesting figures Of the loss TO the working
classes because of the Introduction Of machinery In
reference 10 the stand that he and large following
took on the hanging Of the Chicago Anarchists, he
said:
As Is we'll known to you. little more than a month
ago seven men were awaiting the execution Of tho
and county had adudged them guilty Of crime which
tooG oGrns1 IN" fcah penalty The only power that
eruor of that state The condemned boaStcd that they
were Anarchists. but claimed that they wcrc prompted
IN thclr actS whatever they wcrcl to benefit the whole
Worhng class. deem II almost unnecessary TO eay
mat am no Anarchist. nor have any sympathy with
OF rove ior anaichy lts methods or It's teaching. he
calunnlous statements of few journals to the
strong fePlilg
prevailing among thousands that tho condemned men
wHre about to ic executed I'm dcf.Ecc Of the rch Of
FREQ speech and free assembly and that II they wcIe
eN"cWed they would die martyrs 10 tho
cause OF labor As the representative
of great labor organization was called
uf"n ana rnir'aied tn say word. first. them
RON death. and second. to deprive their movement
of tho food upon which all spa-modc movements
eNl>i-'uartyrlom. Believing that harm could
come 10 onr organization. I wrote letter the
Governor and appealed to him. I'm the interest Of
humanity and 10 prevent impetus being given to
violent revolutionary movement. TO extend cemenrv
20 those misguided men | OppoSd capital
punishment under all circumstances. and I'm this
acted from dual motive OF which the latter not
the least"
While hc was madng this speech ahont The Anarch-
ISIS. he frequently interrupted hy cheers anil
apnlau>c. About 100 delegates attended tho
vcnfion today. and nearly many are
r"rf"d tonight and 20 morrow morning To night
tho delegate" bed hall and reception in the rDncOrhiI
Han given bv the rs Typographca Union. and morrow
night they VIII 70 In body 10 the Brush Electric
Ilght factory.
HORACE GREELEY ASSEMBLY SUSPENDED
Tho nov sraror reporters local. otherwise known
Horace Greeley Local Assembly 949O. nights ot
Labor yesterday served with notice Of suspension
by secretary Litchman for payment Of dues Thcro
was much excitement among the members. IL was thg
seventh local suspended IN District Assembly NJ. 60.
some of nm" members tailed Of going 10 Philadelphia
10 ask FOR rcrclsion OF the suspcson bdt were over